Case Studies Of Industrial Robots

Preserving resources by minimizing their environmental impact, improving energy efficiency, reducing waste, and adopting new environmental friendly technology will be the trends in the future for robot manufacturers. On the other hand, robots take part in producing environmental friendly products.

Stäubli, France - IFR Partner

Natural solutions to Green Automation

A dramatic shift is underway throughout the global manufacturing industry as more and more companies, spurred by heightened environmental awareness, adopt green manufacturing techniques.

Codifying the movement in Europe, European Standard EN 16001 has provided a framework, with tax incentives, for establishing industrial energy management systems. Similarly the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) has identified energy management as a priority due to the significant potential to save energy and reduce carbon emissions in all industrial sectors. Other international regulatory agencies are following suit.

The benefits of efficient energy management are substantial - not only to the environment, but also to business. Best practices such as lean manufacturing and clean delivery strategies enable manufacturers to minimize waste and optimize efficiency along the supply chain without compromising business needs. While reducing their carbon footprints, manufacturers can also cut costs through lower energy consumption and improved process control.

Greater efficiency, both in energy consumption and in production processes, is the essenceof green automation. Toward this goal, Stäubli technologies offer natural solutions.

Energy-efficient robots for optimum automation

Stäubli's high-speed, high-precision robots are ideally suited for a wide range of applications, including clean rooms, lab operations, batch testing and production, within the semiconductor, solar, medical, pharmaceutical and other industries. Engineered to make manufacturing more efficient and streamlined, Stäubli robots also have a variety of energy-efficient features:

A forerunner in green industries

Stäubli is also actively involved in green industries, most notably solar power. Stäubli Robotics offers a full line of robots designed for the production of photovoltaic (PV) arrays, featuring high-speed pick and place capabilities for high throughput and yield. The Stäubli Group Company Multi-Contact (MC) is a leading supplier of solar connector systems and junction boxes. Its products are used in the PV installation at Europe's highest solar power plant, the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise in Switzerland, where a harsh alpine climate demands superior durability.

Following this pioneering project, demand for MC products has grown. In 2009, a new facility was constructed in Essen, Germany to provide greater production space. Stäubli also completed a 40,000-square foot expansion of its Duncan, SC facility in the U.S. last year to accommodate increased production of solar connector systems.

Focusing on a greener future

As the green automation movement evolves, Stäubli will continue to take a lead role. The company's technological R&D has always focused on finding more efficient ways to operate, minimizing waste, and optimizing production. In response to growing environmental awareness and market demand, Stäubli's sights are set firmly on a greener, more time- and resource-efficient global economy.